Educators say the government has missed its chance to make meaningful change in education. Image: AdobeStock by kelly marken
<h2 dir="ltr">The Government has been quick to highlight New Zealand’s ‘failing’ education system, yet when given a chance to address through their first budget they have left the sector feeling like things are going backwards.</h2>
<p dir="ltr">The centrepiece of the budget’s education announcement was $153 million towards the ideologically driven Charter Schools. Seeing such a large investment not going towards fixing the real issues that we have like learning support, a teacher shortage, and leadership support for Principals is tragic.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.schoolnews.co.nz/latest-print-issue/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Read the latest print edition of <em>School News</em> HERE</strong></a></p>
<p dir="ltr">AEC Spokesperson Sarah Aiono says, “Instead of allocating $153 million to charter schools, these funds could be more effectively invested in providing comprehensive support for our most at-risk students.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">Moreover, the recent budget announcement neglects the growing population of neurodivergent students and those who have experienced trauma. By failing to address the needs of these vulnerable groups, the government demonstrates a significant disconnect from the daily realities faced by New Zealand teachers. Support needs to go well beyond the current approach of PLD on literacy and numeracy.</p>
<figure id="attachment_30495" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-30495" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img class="size-medium wp-image-30495" src="https://www.schoolnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/AdobeStock_163289126-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-30495" class="wp-caption-text">Learning support coordinators could be funded with money set aside for charter schools. Image: AdobeStock by AUFORT Jérome</figcaption></figure>
<p dir="ltr">Principals in the sector have been quick to run the numbers of what $153 million invested into public schools would mean for children’s learning. The Government has decided to fund a Charter School experiment instead of 3,974 learning assistants working 30 hours a week, support for 12,812 high needs ORS children, or 1,530 Learning Support Coordinators to deal with the inequity of access that currently exists.</p>
<p dir="ltr">AEC Spokesperson Lynda Stuart says, “Investing in education is about choices, we would much rather the Government focuses on investing with a focus on equity for learners rather than a Charter School model.</p>
<p dir="ltr">&#8220;There is not a single country that has improved outcomes for learners by adopting the Charter School model.”</p>
<h5 dir="ltr"><strong>About Aotearoa Educators Collective</strong></h5>
<h6 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.aec.org.nz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aotearoa Educators Collective</a> is an umbrella collective created to support education thought leaders who share a common interest in promoting progressive ideals in schooling. The group includes academics, principals and teachers and is not aligned to any political party.</h6>
<h6 dir="ltr">These leaders choose to contribute to mainstream public debate through mainstream media based on their research, their lived professional experience and their standing within the sector.</h6>

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